Game apparatus



-Jan. 4,

E. .1. SCARSETH GAME APPARATUS Filed Ja n.v 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1anon tor 61mm, r

Q Jan. 4, 1927.

1,612,946 E. J. SCARSETH GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4-3-47, GttozmmaJ Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

EDVIIN J. SCARSETH, GALESVILLE, \VXSCONSIN.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed January 14, 1926. Serial No. 81,268.

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and moreparticularly that class embodying a target, a projectile, and means forimpelling the projectile in the direction of the target, and one of theobjects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of thisclass which will requ re the exercise of skill and judgment on the partof the player.

The apparatus embodying the invention includes a plurality of targetmembers, means for positioning a projectile, and means for impelling theprojectile, and another object of the invention is to so construct theimpelling means that it may be adjusted, at the discretion of theplayer, to impel the projectile in various directions so that, if theplayer is skillful, he may cause the projectile to strike a selected oneof the target members.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of thisclass, two impelling members so formed that one of the members will,when actuated, impel the projectile in an upward and forward directionin an elevated path of flight and the other impelling means, whenactuated, will impel the projectile forwardly in a less elevated path offlight, the invention further contemplating so forming the strikingportions of the impelling members that the projectile may be impelleddirectly forwardly or to either side, depending upon the adjustment ofthe said members.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in game apparatus of theclass referred to, target members so constructed and so mounted thatwhen one or another of sev eral radial target blades of any one of themembers is struck by the projectile, rotary movement will be imparted tothe respective target member about a support upon which it is mountedand the target member impelled through actuation of one or the other ofthe impelling members.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the game apparatus embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through theapparatus.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and illustrating aportion 'of the apparatus in top plan.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the targetmembers.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one member of the indicatingmechanism.

Figure (Sis asectional perspective view of one of the impelling members.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the other impelling member.

The game apparatus embodying the invention includes a base 1 which maybe of wood or metal or any other material found suitable for the purposeand which has its upper surface 2 inclined from end to end, the basebeing of oblong rectangular form, as shown in Figure 3. In order toprevent the projectile, which is indicated by the numeral 3, and ofspherical shape, being im pelled through space beyond the boundaries ofthe apparatus, a guard, indicated in general by the numeral 4, isprovided, and this guard is preferably of wire mesh material andcomprises sides 5, aback 6, and a rearwardly and downwardly curved top7, the sides 5 preferably having their upper edges inclined downwardlyfrom the opposite ends of the forward edge of the said top 7. This guardlikewise serves to enclose the target unit and this unit comprisesupstanding side plates 8 which are preferably secured at their lowerends to the opposite side edges of the base 1 near the rear thereof, andthese side plates supporting a rod 5) upon which the target members aremounted. The target members are indicated in general by the numeral 10,-and each of said members comprises a cylindrical body 11 which may be ofwood or any other material found suitable for the purpose and which isformed with a rectangular opening indicated by the numeral 12 extendingtherethrough from side to side. The opening 12 is located e'ccentricallyof the body 11 with one of its 'co'rners, indicated by the numeralapproximately at the axis of the directly in front of and opposite theprojectile, but to other positions somewhat laterally displaced withrespect to the projec tile. This permits of a direct impact of the lowerend of the front 24 of either member directly against the forward sideof the projectile or, if the member is somewhat laterally displaced, it,when actuated, will strike the projectile near one side or the other soas to impel the projectile rearwardly toward the right or toward theleft rather than directly rearwardly, and in order that this result maybe more perfectly attained, the lower portion of the front 24 of theimpelling member 22 is transversely curved as indicatcd by the numeral54, the said front being otherwise substantially straight in a rerti "aldirection. In a similar manner, the lower end portion of the front 24 ofthe impelling member 23 is transversely curved, as indicated by thenumeral 35, and its said portion is likewise dished along a verticalline, as indicated by the numeral 36, so that its lower extremity willbe curved to a greater or less extent in a forward direction or, inother words, in the direction in which it is swung to impel theprojectile.

lVhen the target members have been properly arranged as beforedescribed, the player determines which one of the impelling members hewill use and adjusts the supporting rod 28 tobring the said member intoposition opposite the projectile 3 or slightly to one side or the otherthereof and then suddenly presses down upon the finger piece 27 of theimpelling member, causing the member to swing quickly rearwardly or inthe direction of the projectile and, by impactive force, drive theprojectile in the direction of the target. The player will, of course,select which one of the target members he wishes to rotate and willendeavor to strike one or another of the blades of the said member. Ifit is desired to strike a downwardly projecting blade of any one of thetarget members, the. player will naturally select the impelling member22, inasmuch as the lower portion of the front of this member issubstantially straight on a vertical line and while the projectile 3 wil be impelled in an upward direction, it will not be impelled to such aheight as it would be if the member 23 had been brought into use.Therefore, the player may select one or the other of the impellingmembers, depending upon whether he wishes to impel the ball at a lowelevation or a higher elevation. By laterally adjusting the selectedimpelling member, where one of the target members at or near the end ofthe. series is the objective one, the projectile may be clirected towardthe right or towardthe left as well as upwardly.

The purpose which each player will have in View, in competitionwithother players,

mum number of play jectile with a mini.- n'ough the medium in a mannerto ett will beto impel the} of the impelling membe feet change inposition 1 bers so that all of the s v arget members will finally occupya position with the blade 14 extending downwardly and the blades 15extending one in a forward direction and the other in a rearward drection, or, in other words, precisely the reverse of the positionshown, for example, in Figure 2 of the drawings, and insuch position ofeach target member the blank space of the blade 14: will be presented'tothe players view and none of the face representations 16 will bevisible. It will be evident at this point that a player, in order toaccomplish his purpose, must exercise judgment in detern'iining thetarget member at whichthe projectile is to be li-' rected and whether itwill be advisable to employ the impelling member which will impel theprojectile in an upward direction to strike an upstanding target bladeor in anearly horizontal direction in order to str ke a downwardlyprojecting blade.

In order that the number of plays made 1e target memby each player maybe automaticallyregis tered, registering means is employed,' actuatedthrough the impelling movement of the members 22 and 23 and thismechanism comprises a wheel 37 rotatably mounted upon a stubshaft 38-upon one of the side plates 17, the wheel being provided with peripheralteeth indicated by the numeral 89. Upon the outer face of the wheel 37,opposite each tooth, there is printed an indicating number, whichnumbers are indicated by the reference' numeral 4.0, and these numbersare arranged in numerical order throughout the entire series. Anindicating arrow or pointer 41 is dep cted upon the outer side of thesaid side plate 17 and positioned for registration of the teeth 39therewith, in the rotation of the registering wheel 37. The wheel 37 isintended to be rotated the distance of one tooth at the time ofoperation of e ther of the impelling members 22 and 23 and the means foreff cting this actuation of the wheel comprises a rod d2 pivo'tallyengaged at one'end through an opening 43 formed in that one of the sidemembers 17 opposite the one beside which the wheel 37 is posit oned. Therod 42 is provided at its said end with a head 43 which preventslongitudinal displacement of said rod in one direction. The rod extendsthrough an nclined slot 44: formed in the other side plate 17 and isbent at right angles to provide an upwardly and rearwardly extending arm45 positioned close to the outer side of the said plate. The said arm i5is bent at right angles to provide a ball portion 46 which rests inengagement with the teeth of the wheel 37-. and

beyond this portion is bent downwardly as at 47 beside the outer face ofthe wheel and tion of thesaid member 42.

thence rearwardly, as at 48, the said p01 tions at? and 48 serving tonormally maintain the member 42 in over-balanced position with its ballportion 1-6 in engagement with theteeth of the wheel 37. It will now beevident thatwhen the member 42 assumes a normal position, it will restat its portion adjacent the bend at the lower end of the arm 45, in thelower end of the slot 44, its portion to engaging against the abruptface of one of the teeth 39 of the registering wheel 37. With the memberin this position, the projectile 3'will rest against the portion of themember which extends across the front of the apparatus,- the saidportion. of the said member being located at such distance above theupper surface of the base 1 that the upper and forward side of theprojectile 3 will contact the intermediate por- It will nowbe evidentthat when. either of the impelling members 22' and 23 is actuated, themember will first strike the projectile-to impel the same andimmediately subsequently will strike the member 42 to swing the sameabout its pivot end stain an upward and rearward direction, to cause theball portion atti-of the said member to impart rotary mo tion to theregisteringpwheel 37 a distance of one toothand, when-the projectile 3returns to position resting inthe bight of the positioningmember 18, itwill strike the portion 42 and restore the same to normal position, theball portion 46 of the member ridingover the neXt tooth of the seriesand engaging behind the same.

Inorder that the lower ends of the impelling members may strike theprojectile 3 in the most effective manner, the'base 1 at I its rear edgeand upper side is beveled as indicated by the numeral 49, thus affordingample clearance for the said ends of the impellingmembers.

In order that the projectile 3 may be held assembled with the remainderof the apparatus when the apparatus is not in actual use, aretainingmember 50is provided and comprises a base portion 51 which issecured to the upper side of the base 1 between one of the side plates17 and the adjacent one of the side members 20 of the positioning member18, and upstanding cupped resilient side members 52 between which theprojectile may be frictionally fitted and retained.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In: gameapparatus ofthe class described, a plurality of independentlymovable'target members, projectile positioning means located oppositethe same, impelling members operatively supported with relation to thesaidpositioning means, one of said impelling members having an impactsurface substantially straight on a plane at right angles to the axis ofmovement of the member, the other member having an impact surfaceinwardly curved with respect to such plane whereby to impel aprojectilesustained by the positioning means in an upward direction, and meanssupporting said impelling members and adjustable toselectively bringsaid members into operative relation tothe positioning means.

2. In game apparatus of the class described, aplurality oindependently-mov able target members, projectile positioning meanslocated opposite the same, an nnpelling member operatively arranged withrelation tothe said positioning means todeliver in'ipactive forceagainst a projectile sustained by the said positioningieans,andindicator mechanism including-anelement actuated through actuation ofthe impel;- ling member, thesaid indicator mechanism comprising a numberwheel havinga peripheral series of teeth, and a pawl element -c0- actingwith the teeth and movable through actuation of the first mentionedelement .of the said indicator mechanism.

shin-game apparatus of the class de scribed, a target member, projectilepositioning means located opposite the same, an

impelling member operatively arranged with relation to the saidpositioning\ means, a registering-number wheel mounted for rotationandhavi'ng a peripheral series of teeth, a rod supported at one end forpivotal movement and extending transversely (across the path of movementof the impelling means and a pawl actuated through movement of the rodthrough impact of the impelling meanstherewith to effect-rotation of thesaid number wheel.

5. In game apparatus of the class described, projectile positioningmeans, animpelling member operatively arranged with relation thereto todeliverimpactive force to a projectile sustained by the positioningmeans, and a target unit positioned in advance of the-said positioning,means and comprisinga symmetrical body havingan eccentricallylocated'openingtherein, a sus-' pension element extending; through theopening, target elements projecting from the periphery of the body atdiametrically opposite points thereof, a third target'elcment projectingfrom the periphery of the body and spaced from the first mentionedelements approximately ninety degrees, the

eccentric disposition of the said opening being in the direction of thelast mentioned target element.

6. Ingame apparatus of the class described, projectile positioningmeans, an impelling member operatively arranged with relation thereto todeliver impactive force to a projectile sustained by the positioningmeans, and a target unit positioned in advance of the said positioningmeans and comprising a cylindrical body having a rectangular openingextending therethrough from side to side and positioned eccentricalivwith one corner located substantially at the axis of the body, a targetelement projecting from the periphery of the body substantially oppositethe opposite corner of the opening, and other target elements projectingfrom the periphery of the body and spaced from the first mentionedtarget approximately ninety degrees, and a suspension element extendingthrough the opening.

7. In gai'ie apparatus of the class described, a plurality ofindependently movable target members, projectile positioning meanslocated opposite the same, a longitudinally shiftable rod located injuxtaposition to the projectile positioning means and extendingtransversely with respect thereto, and impelling members suspended fromsaid rod and capable of independent swinging movement thereon,adjustment of the said rod serving to position the said impellingmembers selectively to deliver impactive force against a projectilesustained by the positioning means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWIN J. SCAR-SETH. 1,. 5.

